‘Markdown addicts’ show off their MASSIVE lockdown supermarket hauls after spotting great deals

Thrifty shoppers who call themselves ‘markdown addicts’ are showing off their huge lockdown grocery hauls after saving hundreds of dollars. 

A group of Australians have scored fresh meats and ready-made meals for a fraction of the price – including $1.99 for 500g of beef mince, $2.94 whole roast chickens, 65 cents for a huge tray of schnitzels, and $3 family-size lasagnes.

Bargain hunters are saving a fortune on their grocery bills – as supermarkets Coles and Woolworths mark down items progressively throughout the day, with 20, 40, 60, 80 and even 99 per cent slashed off the retail prices.

One mum couldn’t believe her luck after she scored a huge grocery haul of dinners for her young family-of-four for just $28.43, saving $80.

‘About to get busy cooking up a storm for my hubby and two boys. We are a single income family so we saved $80, I am very happy, especially in these times,’ she wrote in a Facebook group.

One mum couldn’t believe her luck after she scored a huge of dinners for her young family-of-four for just $28.43, saving $80. The grocery included $3 lasagnes, $2.94 whole roast chicken, $1.60 chicken kebabs, $2.02 chicken tenderloins and $1.92 chicken wings

Another shopper said she bought four nights of dinners worth $126 for just $25.94, saving her $100. She got four trays of cooked and peeled prawns for $1.60 ($8), three roasts for $2.60 ($13), two packs of eight Angus beef sausages for $1.87 ($7.50) and four trays of chicken breast schnitzels for $2 ($10)

The best times to shop for markdown bargains 

Australian supermarket stores are discounting items progressively through the day, with 20, 40, 60, 80 and even 99 per cent slashed off the retail prices.

There are no set day for markdowns as products go out of date constantly – but bargain hunters suggest the best times to shop are either early in the morning or shortly before closing time.

Stores slash prices off perishables in a bid to sell whatever they can before binning it or donating to charities. 

‘I went to [Woolworths] after picking up my son from school so around 3.30pm was when I shopped. There were heaps of other foods there as a worker was still marking things down.

‘All the meat is being cooked tonight, then cooled and bagged up for the chest freezer. The rest went straight into the freezer except one of the lasagnes and wings which were tonight’s dinner with a salad and garlic bread.’

Another shopper said she bought four nights of dinners worth $126 for just $25.94, saving her $100. 

‘I’ve never been able to figure out when my Coles has markdowns. Every now and then I am lucky enough to get a couple of good deals but tonight, I scored,’ she said.

She purchased four trays of cooked and peeled prawns for $1.60 ($8), three roasts for $2.60 ($13), two packs of eight Angus beef sausages for $1.87 ($7.50) and four trays of chicken breast schnitzels for $2 ($10).

‘I would never normally buy these things not on sale so it’s great to be able to have something instead of mince of any kind, chicken breast, corn beef or whole chicken we normally eat,’ she said.

One shopper said she and her friend purchased more than $200 worth of different types of chicken, ranging from schnitzels, wings, skewered kebabs and chicken breasts, for just $20.11

The two families were thrilled when they scored a huge bargain on chicken to feed 11 people

Another customer said he walked away with 21 kilos of mince beef and pork for just $83.58, saving himself a whopping $272. 500g of mince were slashed down to just $1.99

One mum scored three trays of chicken marylands for just 47 cents and four packs of chicken breasts from 55 cents each

One shopper said she and her friend purchased more than $200 worth of different types of chicken, ranging from schnitzels, buffalo wings, skewered kebabs and chicken breasts, for just $20.11. 

‘I’ve always been jealous of everybody’s awesome bargains. Well today was mine and my friend’s day. We saved $180.39,’ she said. 

‘Now for everyone who says it’s not fair we should have left some – we did, there was that much, it was crazy and we have 11 people in total in our shared household.’

Another customer said he walked away with 21 kilos of mince beef and pork for just $83.58, saving himself a whopping $272.  

‘Look what I found – $7.99 mark down to just $1.99 for 500g,’ he said.  

One mum scored three trays of chicken marylands for just 47 cents and four packs of chicken breasts from 55 cents each.

‘What a fab find. I would have grabbed the whole lot. Why not? You would be mad not to. I recently found a markdown and took the lot. No f***s given what people think. I saved $70,’ she wrote.

Another shopper purchased sandwiches from as little as 75 cents, chicken Caesar salads for just $1.05, dip for 67 cents and soup for 37 cents.

‘The sandwiches are fresh and last for the following day. First time purchasing dip and soup for under $1, can’t go wrong,’ she said.

‘Our sandwiches are super fresh and soft, nothing was going bad inside. Everything lasted for five meals – two people for breakfast and three people for lunch.’

Another shopper purchased ‘super fresh’ sandwiches from as little as 75 cents, chicken Caesar salads for just $1.05, dip for 67 cents and soup for 37 cents

One woman spotted baby formula for just $3 at Drakes North Haven in South Australia 

While another shopper stumbled across baby formula, ranging from $2 to $4, at Coles

Meanwhile, other shoppers shared their tips for scoring great supermarket deals.

‘I love nothing more than a bargain. Most weeks, I shop at Coles and Woolies. Try different times to get to know the markdown times of your local better,’ a shopper suggested.

While another said: ‘I avoid Coles and Woolies as much as I can. I’ll shop at Aldi fist and get everything I can and only go to the other supermarkets for things I can’t get. I save at least $100 simply by doing this.

‘Butchers do bulk meat packs that are amazing value too. They help so much with meal planning.’ 

Another shopper said she always looks out for meat markdowns between 9am and 10am as it’s the best time for her to score bargains.

‘I know times can vary per store but sure enough, I always get a few bargains during these times,’ she said. 

Another shopper stocked up on $5 bottles of rosé, which normally cost $16 each

While another said: ‘Each store is different. I find Coles has the markdowns in the same place with the usual items would be but Woolies moves them to a dedicated markdown section.

‘Although meat stays in the same area. You just need to scar your stores and see where they put them. The markdown stickers tend to stick out.’ 

Many suggested the best times to shop are either early in the morning or shortly before closing time. 

One Woolworths employee previously revealed the discounts on fresh produce are carried out twice a day in her store.

‘In my store, all markdowns for any fresh department – deli, meat, seafood and bakery – are to be done by 11am and a further one is done again at 4pm, for things that have to be cleared by that day,’ she claimed.

Another Woolworths worker agreed, saying: ‘As far as I know, markdowns are completed before 11am and before 4 pm except for bread which can vary depending on store size and production.’

While a third employee said: ‘It’s different in every store and it varies so much.’

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